Camp alum returns as editor, watches camp change lives the way it did her's

This week, I spent nearly 12 hours a day in The Daily Barometer newsroom at Oregon State University. Students around me worked diligently, taking notes from editors, drafting and redrafting and redrafting again.

The experience had a distinct feeling of deja vu -- two years ago, I had been one of those students.

Back then, participating in High School Journalism Institute changed my life. I discovered a passion for journalism, found confidence in my editors' belief in me and realized it was indeed possible for high schoolers to produce a 32-page newspaper in one week.

After my fond memories, I was more than happy to come back and be a part of the camp once again.

This time around, though, I expected it to be a different experience -- less stressful, less profound in its effects on me.

I was wrong. Being an editor at the camp was a different experience, that's for sure. But it has been no less stressful and no less profound. Once again, I am coming away from a week at camp with many lessons learned and a firmer belief in the importance of journalism and camps like this one.

Over the last six days, I watched as my students, Jzalana Bethune-Summers and Evita Garza, interviewed and re-interviewed, wrote and rewrote. I watched them absorb my edits and apply them to their stories, their writing growing stronger with each draft. I watched the excitement on their faces when they read their final draft and realized what they had accomplished.

On the last day, I watched as both of them smiled and told me that that they would never forget the experiences they had this week. When I looked around, I saw the same pride and gratitude on each student's face.

Being around these students and watching their hard work, their growth and the amazing product they produced has been a truly amazing experience. Hearing their stories and seeing their work makes me certain that they will continue on to do great things.

Some of them have discovered the same passion for journalism I did. Others are coming away with a better understanding of what diversity means. I hope all of them left this week with a sense of all they are capable of, and that this camp has changed their lives the way it has continued to change mine.